A valuable lesson learned...

Now that "The Vigil or The Guided Cradle" has closed, I can talk a little shop...

First off, I have a natural paranoia about scenic elements which I've kept in check now for several productions. I tend to second guess people's work. I guess it's an OK habit, especially since I usually keep my comments to myself and try to test to destruction on my own time. Then again, I sometimes assume everything is kosher when it may not be. Let's face it folks, if MY alarm bells are going off about something it probably bears taking a closer look.

Before I begin, I want to be clear, our designer (and ultimately the prop master and TD as it bears out) put together one hell of a set. It looked cool, and handled rather well over the run. She did it literally on such a tight budget, that it's astonishing she got anything done, let alone what we had, which was awesome.

So, I'm not attacking anyone. But here's the thing about the Vigil. While it was a set piece, it also functioned perfectly well as an actual medieval torture device. I came to discover this over the course of the run. If you think you can tough it out for 15 minutes, as long as you get a break, be sure you can tough it out if you DON'T get a break. Otherwise you'll discover exactly what you're made of come closing night when the curtain that was hung with hooks designed to support the load of a plastic shower curtain finally fails, leaving you unable to extricate yourself from said torture device without totally killing the moment for the audience.

So, I had to man up, so to speak, and learned that for the future, I'm going to to test everything to destruction, so I don't have to experience prolonged discomfort like that again. I was never in danger, mind you, just uncomfortable. And if it can be avoided, it's something to work for.

As it turns out, I'm made of stern enough stuff that it wasn't a problem to stay in the Vigil, which surprised the shit out of me, I'll tell you. If you had asked me in April if I thought I could have pulled that off, I'd have said no.

Very early in the run I noticed the hooks on the curtain were stressing and failing, but pulled a ladder out only once to take a look for myself and make an adjsutment. Then I said, "well, I'm sure they'll be fine." Even though I should have either kicked up enough fuss to the producers, or just taken matters into my own hands and bought better hooks.

Serves me right.

Other things I've learned - I'm still trying to find just the right mix of color to viscosity to cost-per-effect in the blood work. We certainly got the most bang for the buck on the stabbing effects mentioned in previous posts - but I was only 85% happy with it. With a little money and time invested I think I can develop a good washable stage blood that is non-toxic, and viscous enough to run correctly. (too watery and it begins to look "Kool-Aid-y", too much stage blood and it's too gelatinous).

Since I have a small amount left, I'm thinking about seeing how certain opaque liquids - like soy milk for instance reacts to stage blood and vice versa. It won't taste good, I know that, because soy juice is nasty, but there is something about the rich opacity of blood fluids that I just haven't found in a stage blood yet.

Fine I'm being a nit-picky chump. But I really want to get this right for next time. One never knows.

But anyway, I'm letting the character of poor Jan go to his well deserved rest, courtesy of "Ipp. O. Lito" and his neck snapping power grip. Which by way, went well most nights. The ol' uncooked noodle in the mouth for a good neck break sound always gets 'em. Or almost always.

Now, back to Hack. Cal the Gunslinger rides again.